Video: Dowling & Mitchell storm to victory at Stephen Roche GP

Group sprint for the finish of the @Orwell_Wheelers #StephenRocheGP @FitzCycles pic.twitter.com/PIAZUaqbuZ

— UCD Cycling (@UCD_Cycling) June 21, 2016

Mark Dowling sprints in at the head of the breakaway for victory at the Stephen Roche GP in Dundrum, south Dublin (Video courtesy UCD CC, homepage photo of Dowling by Brendan Slattery)

Mark Dowling has won the Stephen Roche GP and Susie Mitchell the Lisney Grand Prix, both promoted by Orwell Wheelers in south Dublin this evening.

Wearing his national criterium champion's kit, Dowling played his cards perfectly in the final in Dundrum.

He bided his time until the home straight before unleashing his kick for the line that saw him take a convincing win.

He led home a 13-man group that finished just a few seconds ahead of the large main field after the 45 minutes +3 laps contest.

Susie Mitchell was delighted with her very strong win in the women's event (Photo: Ian Richardson)

Philip Lavery (Unattached) and Rás stage winner Eoin Morton (UCD CC) were aggressive throughout and they led onto the final lap just a few seconds clear of the rest of the breakaway.

But on the closing lap the breakaway closed them down and almost as soon as the escape rounded the final bend Dowling kicked for home and held off Matteo Cigala (Team Aquablue) and Lavery to win, with Morton in 4th place.

In the women's event, where equal prize money was on offer, the honours came down to a sprint from a group.

And having taken a bronze medal in the rain-hit shortened omnium national championships on the Sundrive Rd track in Dublin at the weekend, Susie Mitchell showed she had recovered well to take a clear victory.